MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) conducted a mandatory drug test on Tuesday afternoon at the Solid North Transit Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, targeting bus drivers and conductors as part of efforts to ensure road safety and compliance with transport regulations.

The move follows a recent fatal incident involving one of the company’s buses, which crashed into multiple vehicles along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), killing 10 passengers and injuring several others.

More than 300 personnel comprised the first batch of drivers and conductors who underwent testing, with a second batch of over 200 individuals scheduled for screening on Wednesday, May 7.

“Bago natin payagan ang Solid North na makabyahe ulit, kailangan natin i-check up iyong kanilang mga driver at konduktor na sila ay drug-free,” said LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II.

The LTO has also made it clear that refusal to undergo the mandatory drug test would result in disqualification from operating or boarding Solid North buses.

In addition to the drug testing, a motor vehicle inspection will be conducted on more than 200 bus units under the company’s fleet.

Employees who test positive will have their licenses revoked.

“Revocation of license 'yan, subject to confirmatory test at kapag na-confirm na talagang positive--perpetual disqualification. Isa-submit namin sa LTFRB iyong results to determine whether the bus operator is still fit, legally qualified to operate a public utility,” Mendoza added.

Solid North management, for its part, expressed full cooperation with the LTO’s directive, asserting their commitment to a drug-free workplace.

“Nais lang po namin patunayan sa gobyerno at kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na hindi po kami gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot,” said Emerito Sanchez, president of Pangasinan Solid North Transit Inc.

Sanchez expressed confidence that none of their personnel would test positive and appealed for the resumption of their operations after the tests.

He also requested that only the Cubao-Pangasinan route be affected, instead of suspending the entire fleet.

“Nais lang po namin talagang makabalik sa trabaho kasi may kanya-kanya po kaming pamilya na pinag-aaral na mga anak, ito lang po ang nagiging bread and butter namin. Sana po mapagbigyan kami ng gobyerno na makabalik sa trabaho upang matugunan ang pangangailangan sa pamilya namin,” he said.